Hazard at a glance…

Welcome to the mountains and to the friendly community of Hazard, Kentucky! The town of Hazard is located on the north fork of the Kentucky River in Perry County. Named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, this small community is a leader in education and communication throughout the region. Hazard has been able to maintain its rich heritage as a coal community while adapting to the changing times.

Population

Hazard's population is approximately 5,600 with more than 30,000 residents in Perry County.

Industry

As in most of Eastern Kentucky, the main industry is coal mining, but the city is also focusing now on attracting new industries and expanding the area’s timber harvesting and other lumber-related industries.

Education

Perry County offers education at all levels, from elementary education to college. Perry County is home to Perry Central High School, Hazard High School, Buckhorn High School, and the two-year Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC). Lees College Campus of HCTC in neighboring Breathitt County offers residential living for students. University Center of the Mountains (located on the Hazard Campus of HCTC) offers 10 bachelor and five master degree programs. The Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky, located on the Hazard Campus of HCTC, provides simulated space exploration. Hazard also boasts the University of Kentucky Center for Rural Health.

Recreation

Hazard and Perry County offer a variety of recreational facilities and activities, including three city parks with basketball courts, tennis courts, an amphitheater, a picnic shelter, playgrounds, a nine-hole golf course, and volleyball courts. The Hazard Pavilion offers an Olympic-size pool, tennis and racquetball courts, a weight room, and more. Fugates Entertainment Complex, north of Hazard, offers a variety of activities from bowling to skating to swimming in a wave pool. Nearby Buckhorn Lake State Park and Carr Creek Lake give visitors many exciting options, such as boating, swimming, and fishing. While various activities occur throughout the year, the entire community especially enjoys Hazard’s four-day celebration of the coal industry, Black Gold Festival, which is held each year in September.

Health Services

Perry County has a variety of healthcare services, including the Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center and the ARH Psychiatric Center. Also located in Hazard are the ARH Hazard Family Health Services Clinic, the ARH PrimeTime Clinic, and the Hazard HomeCare Store. In nearby Ary and Hindman are the ARH Homeplace Clinic and the ARH June Buchanan Primary Care Center, respectively. ARH offices located on the System Center-Hazard campus include the ARH Division of Home Services, ARH Division of Clinics, ARH Home Services Central Billing Office, and the ARH Eastern Kentucky Workers Compensation Program.  The Hazard Community College-Allied Health Center, the University of Kentucky Center for Rural Health, and the University of Kentucky Family Practice Center are also located on the campus of the System Center-Hazard. There are also hospitals located in nearby Breathitt and Leslie Counties.

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